The Ghoul

Best pay close attention here, as not all is as it seems.

Twisty movies can be god fun, but as is the case with "The Ghoul", they can be quite unsettling. What starts out as a standard police drama slowly melts into an endless, dark, psychological journey, where everything is gradually turned upside down.

Not an easy watch, this: a dreamy, hallucinatory, moebius strip thriller with an agonizing performance from the spiralling lead (the excellent Tom Meeton). Filmed in dark, bleak confines, "The Ghoul" works, not inspite of it's micro budget, but because of it - relying on claustrophobic interaction from the players.

Fans of linear cinema need not apply, but those wishing for a jarring, thought-provoking experience will be rewarded.

I 'get' what this film tries to do, I just don't like it. Someone was quoted as saying it could stand alongside David Lynch's 'Lost Highway', but I disagree. The term 'Lovecraftian' has been used many times in recent years to describe many films, but few truly are. 'The Ghoul' is most definitely Lovecraftian, and it has some excellent aspects; the acting is solid, as is the cinematography. The story leaves a lot to be desired however, and as I mentioned, I 'get' it, but I don't like it.

This film is disjointed and awkward in its flow, which was likely intentional, however it doesn't serve the film. In the end it left much to be desired. In the beginning you're loving it, in the middle you're excited to see where it's going, but by the last bit you're saying, "This can't really be it, can it?!" All in all, this film absolutely has the feel and look of a Lynch-made masterpiece, but almost none of the substance and (dare I say) the dazzle of one such as 'Lost Highway' - to which it's been compared.

On the one hand, I loved (really loved) how it portrays a depressed man in such a gritty and realistic way. But on the other hand, it felt lacking and failed to climax into anything that's anywhere near greatness. Not a complete waste of time, and it may very well be enjoyed by some, but for me this fell far short of my initial expectations which the opening scenes gave rise to - 6 out of 10.

Okay I was boggled by this one at the end. It surprised me. I thought for sure the end would be more conclusive, but it was sorta open ended. Giving to me anyway a lot of room for the viewer to guess exactly what just happened. This one had me predicting all kinds of possible endings and none of them really were satisfied.

I liked the script. The jokes were pretty good for a UK movie. +1 Star

I liked the way the movie was done. +1 Star

This one gets a 7/10

This is not a horror film but a complex and dark psychological thriller about a policeman investigating a double murder - or is it all in his imagination? Some reviewers have complained that it is boring but I found it to be a slow yet riveting burn, all the way to it's clever finale. It is well acted & liked the many great shots of London. Certainly not to everybody's taste but to deride this as rubbish is unfair & ignorant.

If you just have one small part of you that loves (and maybe craves?) small and low budget movies with interesting ideas, you will like this - very much. The filmmakers say that they themselves were motivated by Nolans "Following" (which in itself was the basis for Memento), making movies without or almost no budget.

Now while you may be able to tell in some regards, I don't think it is too obvious overall. And the story is intriguing to say the least. Beginning with one thing and then pulling that rug underneath our feet and being something else ... or is it? Now I don't think or would claim to have all the answers, but the movie is open for interpretation. Acting is more than rock solid and the tension is being kept at least until the movie ends ... maybe it carries even over (?)